Numbering attachment for printing machines



w. R. ALLEN 1,920,232

NUMBERING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 23, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 1, 1933.

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NUMBERING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Deo. 23 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Allg. l, 1933. w, R, ALLEN 1,920,232

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NUMBERING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING MACHINES mq PW/m/ ug. l, 1933. w. R, ALLEN NUMBERING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 25, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ugl 1933- w R. ALLEN 1,920,232

NUMBERING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed DeC. 23, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 4- www WMM Q M 3%@ w f/w/c @www nire sTaTs 'i Patented Ang. l, .1933

NUMBERHNG ATTACHMENT FR. PRINTING MIAGE-EINES i William R. Allen, Shaker Heights VillagehOhio, assigner, by mesne assignments, to Multigraph Company, ljiiliningten, Del., a Corporation of rimini Delaware applicati@ December 23.1929. seri-ai No.

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15 Claims.

This invention relates to an attachment for printing machines enabling the printing of consecutive numerals on consecutively printed sheets. More particularly my attachment is adapted for the multigraph and to act on the sheets printed thereby as they leave the inultigraph machine.

Among the objects or the invention are provisions'by Which one or more numerals may be printed in any desired position on the, sheet.

l@ Another object is to enable the printing or" the numerals ina dinerent ink from the body of the letter as for instance by direct inlring while the body of the letter may be printed through a ribbon.

Still another Objectis to prevent numeral devices from either registering or printing in case the mechanism isy operating Without feeding a sheet ci paper.

A further object is to enable the printing of the numerals on a Wider sheet of paper than is adapted to be printed by the multigraph printing drum. Y

Still another feature is to enable the same numeral device to print consecutive numerals on the saine sheet of paper printed and fed by the multigraph.

A feature of my invention is that theprinting of the numeral may ll in matter p 1inted by the printing machine proper. Y

My attachment is well adapted for use with a multigraph drum equipped with a blanket carrying a page form of printing members. When such a blanket is used, any numeral device carried by the drum must operate outside `the region printed by the blanket, whereas by my system the numerals may ll in a space lett for them on matter printed on the blanket.

As an illustration, my machine is Well adapted for printing blank checks, that is to say, the

igraph machine may print either the entire wording on the check or the naine, for instance of the corporation maker thereof, onpreviously .'thographed forms and in either case the serial nur ber may be filled lin by the numeral attach- Several of t1 ese checks on the same sheet of paper be A nted by the niultigraph, and the same numeral device may operate to print successive nu ,era-ls on the successive checks.

e by reason of its numeral device the printing of a serial number es ending to the numeral printed oper. Various other uses of the inbering combination will be 5 The above outlined features andothers con- (ci. 10i-77.)

tributing to the leiiiciency of the machine Will be apparent from the following detailed description kof an approved embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of my 'cornplete machine brokenk away through the inlring ribbon of theinultigraph; Figs. 2 and 3 are end views of the complete machine looking fromthe right hand end of Fig. 1 and showing the inachine with the numeral attachment in operative and incl erative printing position respectively; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the niultigraph or rotary printing portion of the combination as indicated by the line 4 4 on Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a verticalcross section on an enlarged scale on a plane parallel with Figs. 2 and 3; the general plane of the section being rindicated by the line 5 5 on Fig. l; Fig. 6 isa longitudinal vertical section through the nurnbering attachment on the plane indicated by the line 6 6 on Fig. 1; Figs. 7 and 8 are details of the driving mechanism of the numbering attachment, being respectively vertical sections on the planes lindicated. by the` lines '7 7 and 8 8 on Fig. 6; Fig. 9 (on the same sheet with Fig. 4) is a vertical section on a plane indicated by either of the lines 9 9 on Fig. 6 showing the mechanism for advancing the numeral Wheels; Figs. 10 and 11 are diagrammatic vertical sections illustrating the driving gearing at the left hand end and right hand end of the mechanism respectively; Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the complete machine similar to Figs. 2 and 3 but with some of vthe parts in different positions and Figs. 13 and 14 kare sections through a portion of the platen release mechanism, and are indicated by the lines 13 13 and 14-14 on Figs. 2 and 12 respectively.

In the multigraph proper, as shown in Figs. 1-5, the reference numerals 10 and 11 indicate a pair of end plates suitably connected together by' a base member 2 to form a rigid frame. In these end plates is mounted a main shaft 14, which is shown as provided With an operating crank 15. Rigidly mounted on this shaft are a pair of rings 16 and 17 onvfhich rests the printing segment 20, which is shown as having one or more spring hooks 21 for locking it to the shaft.

The printing surface maybe of any character desired. For instance, the segment may have grooves adapted to carry type or as shown it may comprise a flexible blanket 24 (Figs. 4 and 5) V resting on the segment 20 and-having printing characters. Such a blanket is anchored at one end in a recess formed in the drum and at the VSO other end by means of a movable bar 25. The bar is shown as connected by means of a flat spring 26 to the shaft 14 and is forced by set screws 27 away from the edge of the segment to pull the blanket taut. l

Between the two rings 16 and 17 of the drum there is shown a pair of ribbon spools 28 from which extends an inking ribbon 29 overlying the printing form.

The platen comprises a roller 30 eccentrically mounted between the frame members so that itrnay be moved into position ,tocoact with the printing segment or may be in position to clear the segment. As shown, the roller 30 is mounted on a shaft 31 which has eccentric extensions 32 and 33 journalled in suitable bushings 34 and 35, in the frame members 10 and 11. These bushingsmay be adjustable in the frame members to position the platen axis parallel with that of the segment. In Fig. 4, 36 illustrates a locking arm and a locking screw to hold the bushing 341 in set position, and the bushing may be similarly provided with locking mechanism, if

desired.

rfhe drum and platen are geared together. To this end 1 have shown a gear 40 mounted on the drum ring 17, which gearmeshes with a pinion 41 loose on the shaft extension 33 and is connected with the platen 30 by an Oldham coupling 34. 1n the multigraph thus describedythe platen shaft 31 is given a tendency to turn in a .direction to lower the platen by means of a spring 74 connected as hereinafter explained,

but this operation is normally prevented by a latch which engages a shoulder 52 on a notched disc 53 secured to the platen shaft. This disc, as shown, is adjustably `locked to the platen shaft by means of screws 54 passing through the slotted disc member 55 mounted on l the sections of a lower feed roller 62 and in line with the spaces between the sections of an upper coating feed roller 63. Normally, when the platen is in its active position, the spring pressure of the shoulder 52 against the nose vof the latch 50 holds the fingers 61 in idle position, as illustrated `in Fig. 3, but once for each rotation and justbefore the paper is fed, mechanisin to be described pulls rearwardly on ,the arm 58, slightly turning the platen shaft to relieve the pressure on the latch 50; then the position of this latch becomes controlled by the presence or absence of paper between the rollers e2 and 63.

, If a sheet of paper is present, having been fed alongthe .table 64 to engagement with the stop fingers 65 such sheet'bridges the gaps between the sleeves Aof the roller 63 and the flanges 6l cannot rise so that the latch 50 is retained in the active position. This serves to retain the platen active.Y If at the testing time the paper isabSent, the countenweighted Vends 66 of the sition, and the spring 74 causes such movement. Such platen release as above described is shown and claimed in Patent No. 1,148,940 of George T. Trundle, jr., and reference is made to that patent for a fuller description of such device. The restoring mechanism which has been designed with reference to that platen release, and as stated, operates automatically to restore the platen to its idle position, will be hereinafter described.

The attachment for the multigraph which enables the printing of consecutive numerals on consecutively printed sheets will now be described. Rigidly secured to the base member 12 of the multigraph is a cross member 8O which is the base of the attachment, at either end of which is mounted frames plates 81 and 82. A shaft 85, journalled in the frame plates 81 and 82 carries a plurality of suitable numbering devices 86; the numbering devices may be of any well known form of printing numbering mecha nisms. 1 prefer to use ratchet operated forms which I adjustably mount on the circumference of a sleeve 87 having a flange 88 through which bolts 9() pass to secure the numbering devices thereon. It will be noted that the bolt openings in the flanges 88 are slotted as illustrated in Fig. 9, so that the position of the numbering devices may be `changed with respect to each other around the circumference of the sleeve 87.. The sleeves 87 are slidably mounted on the shaft so that they may be positioned lengthwise on the shaft to place 'he numbers at any desired position on the sheet. When the sleeves 87 have been properly positioned on the shaft they may be rigidly secured thereto by means of suitable set screws 91 mounted in the flanges 88 and which coact with the shaft 85 to secure the sleeves 87 and their respective numbering devices in set position.

The platen which coacts with the numbering devices comprises a roller 95 having extensions 95a which are rotatably journalled in bearing boxes 96 mounted for vertical movement in the frame plates 81 and 82. Springs 97 normally 120 act to urge the bearing boxes 96 and the platen 95 upwardly in position to coact with the numbering devices. Suitable set screws 98, carried by the frame plates 81 and 62 coact with the bearing boxes 9.6 to restricttheir upward movement, and means hereinafter to be described operate to lower. the bearing boxes. and platen to a non-printing position.

' Suitable inking mechanism is provided to ink the numbering devices. As shown the mechanism includes inking rollers 100 mounted above the numbering` devices and adapted to coact with other rollers 101. The rollers 100 are preferably of rubber and the rollers 101 of felt so that the rollers 101 may be fountain rollers and the roll- 135 ers 100 distributor rollers. The rollers 100 and 101 are slidably mounted on shafts 103 and 104 which are rotatably mounted on end plates 102. The end plates 102 are rigidly secured to a rock shaft 106, rockingly mounted in the frame plates 81 and 82. The shaft 106 extends beyond the frame plate 82 as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, and

. has rigidly secured to it a lever 107 which is held in an adjusted position by means of set screws 108 carried by the frame plate 82. This construc- 145 tion makes it possible to adjust the roller assemblywith reference to the inlring device and thereby secure the proper pressure between them. To secure the rollers 100 and 161 in position on their respective shafts I prefer to mount the roller 101 -on a sleeve 105 having a flange 107a which coasts with a groove 108a on a sleeve 109 which carries the roller 100 thereby securing roller 101 in a setwise position relative to` the roller 109. The sleeve 109 is provided with a set screw 109a whereby the' roller may be secured in a setwise position on the shaft 103.`

The numbering devices are segmental and 'therefore in themselves would not give the paper a continuous feed, hence suitable feed rolls are provided to feed the paper as it is received from the multigraph to retain it in contact with the platen 95 of the numbering attachment. In the embodiment shown, I have provided a lower feed roll 110, shown in Figs. 1 and 5, which is mounted `on a shaft 111, rotatably journalled in thev end plates 81 and 82 and driven as hereinafter described. Directly above the rolls 110 which are preferably of rubber or similar material are mounted metallic rolls 112 which are rigidly secured-.to a shaft 113 journalled in the frame plates 81 and 82. The paper passes from the multigraph to the rolls112 and 111, which carry it to the platen 95. Immediately above the platen 95 are rollers 115which are carried by arms 116, rotatably mounted on a shaft 117 journalled in the frame plates 81 and`82 to the rear of the number devices. The` rollers 115 are adjustable endwaysV of the attachment so that they may be moved from point to point to provide clearance for the numbering attachments. I therefore mount the arms 116 on the'shaft 117 in such a manner that they may bereadily moved endways.

The numbering attachments, as illustrated in Figs. 1, e, 5, 6' and 9 are the type which are operated by an oscillating arm 120 mounted at one side of the device and rigid with the operating shaft therefor. In the embodiment illustrated, I have shown three such numbering devices mounted on eachk of the sleeves 86 and in such position that the three may operate on one sheet of paper which has previously been printed by the muitigraph. In this embodiment it is desirous to print consecutive numerals and therefor the three numbering devices each advance by units of three so that they may progress consecutively. The shaft rotates a plurality of times to each rotation ofthe multigraph drum, hence provision must be made to lower the platen 95 and likewise to throw out of operation the means for advancing the numbering devices. To this end I mount a stub shaft 125 on the left hand end of the attachment as shown in Fig. 6, which car ies suitable cams which rotate at the same speed as the multigraph drum, as will hereinafter be described. The cam 126 operates to lower the platen 95 by means of a'roller 127 mounted on a rock arm 128, rigidly secured to a shaft 129, journalled in the end plates 81 and 82. The shaft 129 carries suitable arms 121 which coact with the bearing blocks 96 to lower them so that the platen 95 kwill be in operation onlyv once for each rotation of the multigraph drum. The

l springs 97 serve to restore the platen and maintain contact between the roller and the cam.

The cam 130, which is likewise rigidly secured to the shaft 125 operates to render the numeral advancing means of the numbering devices cp- I erative once for each revolution of the multigraph Journalled at 132 on the end plate 82 is asegmental gear 133 which carries a roller 134 which is held in contact with the cam 130 by means of a spring 136. A pinion 135, rigidly secured to a shaft 11.7 coacts with the segmentand operates to withdraw cam-shaped arms 140, which cooperate with the levers 120 of the numbering devices to advance them as the printing devices rotate past said arms. Hence, the numbering devices are advanced once for each revolution of the multigraph drum.

, The driving mechanism for the multigraph and the numbering attachment will now be described. A's shown, the multigraph drum is provided with a handle 15 so that it may be manually rotated. However, it is contemplated that s. suitable moltor may be used to rotate the drum and operate the associated mechanisms. .Secured to the drum of the rnultigraphV is a gear which meshes with a gear 41 on the platen shaft 33 and serves to drive the platen 30 of the multigraph as heretofore described. The gear 40 also drives a spur gear 159 which is journalled on a stub shaft 151, mounted in the end plate 11 of the multigraph. The gear 150 in turn drives a gear 152, rigidly secured to the upper feed roll shaft` 113 of the numbering attachment. The gear 152 meshes with a spur gear 153 mounted on the lower feed roll shaft 101, thereby driving the feed rolls and progressing the sheet from the multigraph to the numbering attachment.

The drive for the numbering devices and the associated platen is as follows: Secured to the shaft 113 is a gear 155 which meshes with a pinion 156 rotatably journalled on a stub shaft 157 mounted inthe frame plate 82 of the numbering attachment. Rigidly secured to the 'gear 155 is a gear `158, which meshes with a gear 159 secured to the shaft 85 on which is mounted the numbering devices.k This gearing serves to rotate the shaft 85 and with it the numbering devices twice for each revolution of the multigraph drum, the object of this being to conserve space in order that the attachment may be made as compact as possible. In the embodiment shown, the printing surface of the multigraph occupies approximately 180 of the drum. Hence, half of each revolution of the drum is an idle or nonprinting portion. Therefore, it is possible to make thediameter of the printing circle or surfaces of the numbering devices one-half the diameter of `the multigraph drum and rotate the printing devices once during each half revolution of the multigraph drum, one revolution being an active or printing revolution and the next succeeding revolution being an idle or nonprinting revolution where the numbering devices are out of contact with the platen 95 by reason of the cam action heretofore described. Mounted on an extension 95a of the platen 95 is a gear 160 which is driven by the gear 159 on the shaft 85, thereby driving` the platen.

The inl; rolls for the numbering devices ar driven by a gear 165, secured to the distributor roll shaft 103 and meshing with a gear 166 rigidly mounted on the fountain roll shaft 104i. The gear 166 in turn meshes with a gear 167 rotatably mounted on the pivot shaft 106, and the gear 168 rigid with the gear 167, meshes with the gear 159 on the shaft 85, thereby driving the ink rolls.

As it is convenient that the cams 126 and 130 be driven at thesame speed as the multigraph drum, in other words, rotate once for every two revolutions of the shaft 85, a reduction gearing unit is provided to drive the arms from the shaft 85. To this end I prefer to provide the shaft'85 at its left hand end (see Fig. 6) with a squared portion 170, upon lwhich is mounted a spur gear 171. The gear 171 drives star gears 172 which are journalled on studs 173 mounted in the frame the numbering device.

vplate 81. The star gears in turn drive an inter- Anal gear member175, which is rigidly secured to graph itself which is rotative by the crank'15,

as illustrated, or may be driven by a suitable motor which may drive a pulley mounted on the shaft 17, or by suitable gears which may mesh with the gear 33 of the platen shaft 31 of the multigraph.

Mechanism is provided by which the platen roll 95 and cams 140 are thrown into and out of.

operation by reason of the presence ork absence of paper in the .detector mechanism heretofore described. These cams 140 normally operate to advance the numbering devices, in units of three,

once for each active or `printing revolution ofkv The'throw-out mechanism insures that the numbering devices will not smudge the platen roll, also that the numbering devices will be advanced only afteran active printing operation, to the end that the next printing operation will print numbers consecutive with those on the last printed sheet. The arm 58, heretofore referred to, which is rigid on the platen shaft is shown connected by a link 180 (Figs. 2 and 3) with an arm 181 which is pivoted at its upper vend at 21e to the frame member 11 of the multigraph. A spring 74, connected at one end to this arm and anchored at the other end to the frame gives the platen a tendency to turn to the idle position as heretofore mentioned.

To lower the platenshait 95 and to prevent the active operation of the cams 140 from advancing the numbering devices I prefer to provide means to prevent the rollers 127 and 134 respectively, from following their operating cams. This results in both the platen shaft and cams 140 being retained inactive during a normally printing rotation of the printing devices.

The control for the numeral advancing means is follows: Mounted on the shaft 117, to which the cam members 140 are rigidly secured is` a notched disc 185, which is adapted to coact with a latch 186 and thereby prevent rotation of the shaft 117 and therefore prevent the roller 134 from following with the cam 130. The latch 186 is pivoted to a stud 187, and a spring 190 retains the latch in position against a pin 188 mounted on a swinging plate 189, which is likewise pivoted about the stud 187. Hence, when the plate 189 is swungclockwise the pressure of the d isc 185 against the latch will retain the lagch and extend the spring until such time as the higher portions of the cam 130 coact with the roller 184 to relieve the tension between the disc 185 and the latch 186, at which time the spring 190 will cause the latch member to drop, thereby permitting the shaft to rotate to-operative position. This latch is normally in its lowermost or inoperative position and is rendered operative by linkage hereinafter to be described only when the paper detector mechanism positions the member 58 in a non-printing position. f

The platen shaft 95 is controlled by the cam 126 and roller 127 and the levers 121 as heretofore described. To render the action of the cam `126 inoperative, so that the roller 127 will not follow the lower portions of the cam, with the result that the platen 95 will be retained in its lowermost position during a normal printing revolution of the numbering devices, I mount a lever 195 rigid on the'shaft 129 to which the levers 130 are secured and provide a latch 196 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 197 securedto the frame 82 and adapted to cooperate with the lever 195 to retain it in its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position the levers 121 are acting to cause the platen 95 to be lowered to a non-printing position. The latch is normally in an inoperative. position and rendered operative by linkage hereinafter to be described only when the paper detector positions the arm 58 to a non-printing position.

To operate the latches 196 and 186 at the proper intervals, I prefer to provide a link 200 which is pivoted at one end to the link 181 of the multigraph and at its other end to a rock arm 201, which rock arm is pivoted at 202 on the frame plate 8210i ythe numbering attachment. The opposite end of the rock arm 201 is connected by Vmeans of a link 203 to the plate 189. A lever 205 mounted on the stud 187 is pivoted to the link 200 intermediate its ends as at 206, and by means of a spring 207 (secured at one end to the lever 205 at the other end to the latch 196), operates to withdraw the latch 196 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2 when `the link 200 is moved to the right. However, when this action first takes place the pressure between `the lever 195 and its latch 196 is greater than the tension of the spring 207 and hence the latter simply extends the spring untilsuch time as the .cam 126 has acted on the roller 128 to relieve the tension of the latch 125, at which time the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 2. It follows, therefore, that for every actuation of the arm 58 the latches 196 and 186 will be withdrawn from cooperation with their respective latch members, thereby permitting the platen 95 and the cams 14.0 to assume their operative positions.

If however, the absence of paper in the multigraph has caused the arm 58 to assume an inactive or non-printing position, the latches 186 and 196 will remain in an operative position, as illustrated in Fig. 3. However, if there is paper present in the multigraph the latches will be held in an inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2, in which position the latches 196` and 186 are retained out of contact with their respective latch members, thereby permitting an active operation of the platen 95 and the cams 140.

As it is desired to reset this mechanism when it has been thrown to inactive position due to the absence of paper in the multigraph machine I prefer to employ mechanism shown, illustrated and claimed in Patent No. 1,647,560, of Clifton Chisholm et al., and reference is made to that patent for a full and complete description of such platen restoring mechanism. As illustrated in the present embodiment the restoring mechanism consists of a cam 210 secured to the shaft 14 of the multigraph proper and which is adapted to coact with a roller 211 mounted on a lever 212 rigidly secured to a stud'218, which is pivotally mounted on'a lever 181. A spring 215, secured at one end to a substantially stationary part of the multigraph and at the other end to a lever 216 (which is rigidly secured to the stud 213 mounted on the lever 181) serves to keep the lever against a pin 217, mounted on the lever 181. Asthe multigraph drum is rotated, the cam210 serves to actuate the lever 181 once for each revolution of the cam, thereby drawing the plate 58-to the position shown in Fig. 3 once for each revolution. This movement serves to throw the mechanism to an active position` where it will be retained bythe action of the latch 50 on the plate 53, as heretofore described. It will be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a mechanism ywhich will prevent the multigraph from smudging the platen and likewise prevent the numbering devices from smudging their platen and at the same time cause the numbering devices to advanceA only or each sheet which passes through the multigraph, insuring consecutive numbers on consecutive sheets. And, I have provided means whereby this mechanism'may be automatically reset without necessitating manual attention.

Bank checks which are printed and numbered by the multigraph and its associated numbering attachment are usually thereafter bound into book form. It is common practice to insert at the end of the bool?- several sheets containing checks, on which the makers name and all other such information has been printed. However, on these checks the numbers have been omitted. Therefore, when the maker fills out a numbered check erroneously and destroys it, he simply detaches a check from the back of the book and fills the number in by hand, thereby keeping his checks numbered consecutively.

I'o accomplish the printing of the body of the check and omit the numerals, I prefer to provide means whereby the check may be fed through the multigraph while the platen of the latter is in an active position and thereafter fed through the numbering attachment while the platen and numeral advancing mechanism are inactive, but while the sheet feeding means are active. To accomplish this, I prefer to secure the link 200 to the Ylever 181 in such a manner as to be readily detachable. As shown, a pin 26u having a knurled head 261 passes through both the lever and link. The pin 260 is provided with a cotter pin 262, which is normally drawn into a recess 264 in the lever 181 by a spring 265. When it is desired to disconnect the link from the lever the pin 260 is pressed inwardly until the cotter pin clears the recess 264 and turned through 90, in which position the cotter pin passes through a slot 266 in the lever 181 and is retained in a recess 267 in the link 200 by the spring 265. When the pin is withdrawn a spring 270, secured at one end to a pin 2'711 mounted on the frame plate 82 and at the otherr end to the lever 205, acts to rotate the lever counter clockwise, thereby throwing the link `266 and the latches 186 and 196 into an active pocounter 225, which is adapted to be actuated once for each revolution of the multigraph drum and which when set to correspond with the number first to be printed by the numbering device, -will in the embodiment shown tally once for every three numbers printed, and hence, by multiplying the result indicated by three it will be a positive check on the numbering device.

As shown, I providel the counter 225 with a rock arm 226,'` which is rigidly secured to the drive shaft of the counting mechanism and is provided with a roller 227, adapted to be actuated by a lever 228 pivoted at 214. The lever .228y is actuated by a cam 230 rigidly secured to the multi- 'graph shaft 14. rIt is apparent that ii desired I may provide this cam with an actuating surface corresponding in number to the number of printing devices on the multigraph and thereby check directly the printed numerals or I may provide a counter 225, similar to thenunibering devices in that it may be advanced by units of three, thereby giving an immediate check on the numbers printed. To maintain contact between the lever 228 and the cam 230, I prefer, as illustrated, to employ the spring 215 heretofore mentioned one end of which is'secured to the lever 228 and the other end to the lever 181. Y

To render the counterl 225 inoperative when no paper is present in the printing mechanism, I prefer to provide the lever 181 with a pin 250 which Ywhen the lever is in its operative ormonprinting position) coacts with an ear 251 on the lever 228 thereby preventing the latter from iollowing its cam 230, and preventing the numbering device 225 from recording.

./-is in the case of bank checks, which are usually lithographed, it is very often desired to print the numbers on a portion of the paper uponwhich no printing oi the multigraph proper is desired. This is true where the check forms are lithographed and the makers name or other information and a number is required to be printed on the check itself, and simply a number corresponding to the one placed on the check is desired on the stub. It will be seen that to accommodate the printing both on the check and stub requires that the numbering devices be of suiiicient width to print over a wider surface than is required oi the multigraph; that is, to print the width ci the check and stub, which is wider than the standard length of the multigraph drum.

AAs it is not economical to widen the entire multigraph machine where the multigraph is required to Aprint on a region narrower than the entire sheetoi paper,` such as the check proper, I prefer to provide the end plate 10 of the multigraph proper` with an extended or goose-neck portion 240,l which projects to the left of the multigraph propel' as shown in -Enig. 4 and has a throat 241 which lies in the plane of the paper passing through the niultigraph and thereby permits an unobstructed passage of wide paper without materially changing the multigraph. I also ind this is very advantageous in printing many forms other than bank checks.

l. The combination oi a main printing couple, and a supplemental printing couple, including a plurality of numeral' printing devices, each with its own operator, 'and a common actuator for theoperators, andmeans whereby the operator for one of the devices may be moved to anA inactive position relative to its printing device.

2.l The combination of a printing couple having apaper testing device andra platen release, a

Ysupplemental printing couple comprising nu- 3. The combination with a rotary printing drum having a printing surface on approximately 180 of its circumference of a supplemental rotary numeral printing device Vincluding numbering devices, having a printing circle one half of the diameter of the first printing couple, gearing adapted to rotate both printing couples whereby the supplemental couple rotates twice as fast as4 the first, and throw-out means for the supplemental printing couple.

4. In combination, a main printing couple, a supplemental printing couple mounted to the rear of the main printing couple, end frame members adapted to support the main printing couple, one of said frame members having an extended throat-like portion adapted to pass a sheet of material Wider than the Width between the tWo frame members, said supplemental printing coupleextending beyond the one frame member of the main printing couple and adapted to print on the portion of the sheet which passes through the throat of the extension.

V5. In combination with a main rotary printing couple having a printing surface of limited width, and a supplemental rotary couple having a printing surface of greater width, and frame members adjacent the main printing couple 'and adapted to support the same, one .of said frame members having an outwardly extending portion providing a throat adapted to pass a sheet materially greater in width than the limit of the printing surface of the main printing couple, and means to convey the sheet to the supplemental couple to be printed over portions of its extended width.

6. The combination with a main rotary print- Ving couple, of a supplemental printing couple having a series of numeral printing devices mounted forrotation von the same shaft, said series comprising a plurality of numeral printing units, adjustably mounted radially of the axis of the shaft on a sleeve member, said sleeve member being adjustable lengthwise on saidishaft, a rotary platen mounted beneath said numeral printing devices and adapted to coact with each '7. In a numeral printing device, the combination of a series of rotary number'printing devices, each of said series comprising a plurality of individual number printing kmechanisms adapted to be advanced to ,print consecutive numerals,

and a cam for each of said series arranged to coact with the numeral printing devices to advance them, and wherein the cam for one ofsaid series may be moved out of contact with the devices to cause the devices of one of the series to print consecutive numerals and the devices of another or" said series to print the same numerals on consecutive operations of the printing mechanisms.

8. The `combination with a, `main printing couple, of a supplemental rotary printing couple having a plurality of series of numeral printing devices mounted on the same shaft, each of said series comprising a plurality of numeral printing units adjustably mounted radially at the axis of the shaft on a sleeve member and independently relative to the unitsY of other series, said sleeve member being adjustable lengthwise. on

said shaft, means adapted to advance the numeral printing devices to print consecutive numerals, a rotary platen mounted beneath said numeral printing devices and adapted to coactv with each of'said numeral printing devices, gearing associated with said supplemental printing unit adapted to drive it from the main printing unit, and said gearing including means whereby the supplemental unitis rotated a plurality of times for each rotation of the main printing unit.

' 9. The combination with a main rotaryvprinting couple, of a supplemental rotary printing couple having a series of numeral printing devices mounted on the same shaft, each ci said series comprising a plurality of series oi numeral printing units adjustably mounted radially of their axes on sleeve members and independently relative to the units of other series, each sleeve member being adjustable lengthwise on said shaft, a rotary platen mounted beneath said numeral printing devices and adapted to coact with each of said numeral printing devices in each of said series, gearing associated with said supplemental printing unit adapted to drive it from the main printing unit, whereby the supplemental unit is -rotated a plurality of times for each rotation of the main printing unit, and means adapted to `progress a sheet from the main printing couple tothe supplemental printing couple.

10. The combination of a main rotary printing couple, a supplemental rotary printing couple, one member of which has a width larger than the width of the printing surface of the main couple, said supplemental printing couple including a plurality of numeral printing devices, each device having an operating arm to advance the numerals consecutively, an oscillating cam adapted to coact with saidv operating arms, gearing adapted to drive said shaft aplurality of 'times `for each rotation of the main printing couple,

a rotating controlling cam adapted to release and reset the supplemental platen and a rotating Ycontrolling cam to operate said oscillating cam,V

and gearingincluding a spur gear driven by said shaft, an internal gear rigid with said controlling cams and star gears drivingly connecting said spur and said internal gear whereby the controlling cams are actuated at the same speed as the main printing couple.

11. The combination of a main rotary printing couple having a paper testing device, a platen release and restorer, a supplemental rotary printing couple including a plurality of numeral printing devices mounted on a common shaft, each de- Y cam to operate said oscillating cam, gearing to rotate said controlling cams at the same speed as the main printing couple whereby said cams operate to render the platen and numeral advancing arms operative once for each rotation of the main printing coupie and means dependent on the -platen release of the main printing couple adapted to `break the-connection between said operating cams and theirrespective mechanisms whereby 'the supplemental platen and the nueral advancingl cams will be retained in an inactive position at a normally active period.

12. The combination of a main rotary printing couple hav-ing a paper testing device, a platen release, a platen restorer and having a printing surface or" limited width, end plates supporting said printingcouple, one of said end plates having an extended throat-like portion to pass a sheet of materially greater width than the ysaid printing surface, a supplemental rotary printing couple, one member of said supplemental printing couple having a width as large as the width of the main couple plus t'ne extension, and the other member or" said supplemental printing couple including a plurality of numeral printing devices mounted on a common shaft, each device having an operating-arm to advance the numerals consecutively, an oscillating cam adapted to coact with said operating arms, gearing adapted to drive said shaft a plurality of times for each rotation of the main printing couple, a rotating controlling cam adapted to release and reset the supplemental platen, a rotating controlling cam to operate said oscillating cam; gearing to rotate said controlling cams at the saine speed as the main printing couple and means dependent on the platen release of the main printing couple adapted to break the connection between said operating can/1s and their respective mechanisms whereby the suppleiental platen and the numeral advancing cams will be thrown to an inactive position.

13. The combination with a main printing couple, of a supplemental printing couple, one couple adapted to print numerals on the product of the other, means to cause the numeral printing device to advance the numerals `to print consecutive numerals, and an automatically acting throw-off device for the main printing couple, said throw-otr` device controlled by means for testing for the presence or absence of paper, a throw-oli device for the supplemental printing couple, means acting normally to render said last named throw-ofi device active and means disconnected at will to render the second throwoil" device dependent upon the iirst.

A. The combination with a main printing couple, of a supplemental printing couple, one couple adapted to print numerals on the product i the other, means to cause the numeral printing device to advance the numerals to print consecutive numerals, and an automatically acting throw-off device for the main printing couplc, controlled by means for testing for the presence or absence of paper, a throw-01T device for the supplemental printing couple and numeral advancing means, means acting normally to render said last nained throw-ofi device active, and a link connecting the two throw-ofi mechanisms whereby the second throw-off device is rendered inactive when the rst mentioned throw-off device is inactive and means by which said link may be disconnected from one throw-oir device at will. Y

l5. The combination or" a main printing couple and a supplemental printing couple, including a plurality of series of numbering devices, each series being adjustable with respect to each oi the other series and each device being adinstable arcuately with respect to each of the remaining devices of that series.

' WILLIAM R. ALLEN. 

